When it comes to heart-pounding action, though, bull riding --
in which cowboys try to stay astride madly bucking bulls for eight
seconds -- always tops the list, said Burke.

"It's exciting to watch a cowboy who's so light and small
sitting on such a large animal," he said. "Eight seconds doesn't
seem like a long time, but it's a long time to them. And it's the
fastest-moving sport."

Team and calf roping, barrel racing and mutton busting contests
are other events on the schedule for each performance.

The rodeo has been an annual tradition for 34 years. The event
is a natural fit with Poway, whose "city in the country" motto
plays up a rural and horse-friendly atmosphere despite the city's
proximity to San Diego.

The city also takes great pride in its history, which saw
several pioneer families settling the area in the 1800s. A handful
of homes and other buildings built by the first settlers still
stand in an area known as Old Poway.

The riders association, whose arena is a few blocks away,
supplies many of the volunteers who work year-round to organize and
put on the annual rodeo under Pro-Rodeo Productions' banner.

Nancy Kirchhofer, vice-chairman of the rodeo and a riders
association board member, said the group sees the rodeo as one more
way to pay homage to the city's heritage and support the
community.

"It just gives those new people who maybe are not horse-oriented
a nice look into the history of it and the history of the country,"
she said.

The Poway Valley Riders Association arena is at 14336 Tierra
Bonita Road. Its gates will open 1 1/2 hours before each rodeo
performance.

Rodeo tickets for adults start at $12 for Friday's and Sunday's
performances, and at $15 for Saturday's performances. One child
aged 12 and under can get in free with each paid adult
admission.

Sunday is family and military appreciation day, with discounted
family ticket packages and military-member discounts available.
Audience members can also save $2 per person by buying their rodeo
tickets ahead of time at the Hamburger Factory restaurant in Old
Poway Park, the Albertson's grocery store at Pomerado and Twin
Peaks roads, and other select San Diego County businesses; tickets
are also available online.